Cycling the Way of the Roses: Coast to coast across Lancashire and Yorkshire, with six circular day rides (Cycling and Cycle Touring)

Cycle the Way of the Roses and cross northern England from coast to coast, following 170 miles (274km) of scenic country lanes, minor roads, and traffic-free cycle paths from the bay at Morecambe to the cliffs at Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast. Passing through the Lune Valley, the Forest of Bowland, the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale, the Vale of York, and the rolling Yorkshire Wolds, this is one of England's most rewarding and accessible cycle routes.

A challenge within the reach of cyclists of all abilities and rideable on a road bike or hybrid, this trusted Cicerone guide describes the full 170-mile route across 3 days, with alternative 2, 4, and 5-day itineraries also outlined. Six excellent day rides in the vicinity of the main route are also described, making it ideal for those who want to explore the surrounding countryside further.

• Cycle the Way of the Roses in 3 days from Morecambe to Bridlington, with stages of 50–60 miles per day taking in the full sweep of Lancashire and Yorkshire, from Morecambe Bay to the dramatic chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head.
• Explore six circular day rides in the vicinity of the main route, including the Arnside and Silverdale tour, the Way of the Dales, Brontë Country and the dark satanic hills, the Otley and Knaresborough round, a circuit of the Wolds, and an extension from Bridlington to Scarborough.
• Discover the highlights of the Way of the Roses, including the idyllic villages of Burnsall, Settle, and Pocklington, the historic city of York, Ripon Abbey, Brimham Rocks, the Three Peaks, and the spectacular scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale.
• Navigate with confidence using 1:100,000 mapping and gradient profiles included for each stage, alongside GPX files available to download for the full route.
• Plan your Way of the Roses cycling trip with comprehensive practical advice on preparation, equipment, what kind of bike to use, accommodation, and travel logistics to and from Morecambe and Bridlington.
• Choose your own itinerary with flexible options ranging from a two-day challenge to a more leisurely five-day ride, with the route also described east to west for those who prefer to start from Bridlington.

Cycle the Way of the Roses with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From the shores of Morecambe Bay to the dramatic Yorkshire coast, this is the essential companion for one of northern England's most satisfying and accessible coast-to-coast cycle rides.

Rachel Crolla is an outdoors all-rounder who loves hiking, biking, scrambling and climbing. She grew up in Yorkshire, where she still lives with her partner Carl McKeating and their young family. Rachel is an outdoors writer and photographer who is also trained as a journalist and teacher. She has hiked and climbed across the UK, Europe and the USA. In 2007 Rachel became the first woman to reach the summit of every country in Europe – she co-wrote the Cicerone guide book Europe’s High Points soon afterwards. Rachel has since co-written a guide to the mountains of the Massif Central in France and more recently has enjoyed writing about areas in the UK. She and Carl fully updated the Cicerone guide book Scrambles in Snowdonia, which was originally written by Steve Ashton in 1980. Rachel’s first cycling guide to the Yorkshire and Lancashire-based Way of the Roses was published in 2018. Rachel and Carl are passionate about enthusing the next generation of hikers and cyclists with a love of the outdoors.